With the Clippers being arguably the most busy we’ve ever seen them this offseason, and a few familiar names having an impact on the Lakers and Clippers, LAHB will examine the impact that these moves will have.
Clippers sign Ricky Davis
Slowly but surely, the Clippers are having themselves a very solid offseason. Granted, ‘Ricky Buckets’ has a history for being a “me-first” show off with absolutely no success when it comes to how far his teams get with him. However, by signing the man with arguably the most famous triple double in the game, the Clips fill a big gap at the 2/3 for a very cheap price.
Sure, losing Azubuike when he was within grasp hurt, but for what they got him for, I can’t say a bad thing about the Ricky Davis signing.
LA’s OTHER team will be VERY interesting next season.
Lakers re-sign Sasha Vujacic
Arguments will rage on about just how interested the foreign squads were in The Machine, but the fact remains that the Lakers got him, and they’ll be paying him five mil for the next three years. Judging by the years, I’d say Mitch learned his lesson about long term contracts to streaky three point shooters with big final years.
Luke Walton has made me VERY apprehensive about handing out big money contracts to players who shined most the year they’re due for a new contract. That said, Sasha was a key contributor with clutch shooting and pesky defense in the closing minutes of many a Laker games, so it’s hard to say he didn’t earn his paper this season.
For the sake of future white guy shooters that will wear the purple and gold and want a new contract everywhere, let’s hope Sasha doesn’t make the Lakers regret this move.
Our number four greatest moment since ’05 is actually a combo package.
After a long and painful 2004-05 season, the Lakers proceeded to provide fans with an interesting year at the very least. 2005-06 marked what could be argued was the best season of Kobe’s career, with him posting 81 points in a game against the Toronto Raptors, and 62 in three quarters against the Dallas Mavericks.
Aside from the personal achievements of one Mr. Mamba, the Lakers surprised a lot of their critics by landing the seventh seed in the West after a particularly strong finish to the regular season. Their opponent for that first round match up were the Phoenix Suns, a team unknowingly to the Lakers would eventually be a big piece to their Finals run two years later.
“Slow down the tempo…” was the name of the game, but it was easier said than done. Kobe and the Lakers dropped the first game in Phoenix, albeit by a much smaller margin than some may have anticipated. The second and third games were a different story. Learning from their mistakes, the Lakers made necessary adjustments, and because strong play from Kobe, Lamar, and yes, Kwame Brown – the Lakers grabbed a 2-1 lead in the series setting the tone for our number four moment(s).
With 7.9 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and the Lakers down by two in the fourth game of the WC first round, things looked bleak for the purple and gold as Phoenix prepared to enter the ball at halfcourt. Enter: Smush Parker. That’s right, Smush Parker. Poking the ball out of league MVP Steve Nash’s hands, big game Smush tapped it over to D. George who in turn got into the hands of numero ocho – Kobe Bryant. With time running down in regulation, Kobe soared towards the rim and allowed his body to twist and turn as he dropped the game tying lay up that kept the Lakers alive.
Being that is an LA basketball blog, we will refrain from discussing the remaining .7 seconds and the obvious foul by Luke Walton on the other end of the court.
You're lying again. You've lost Lakerfan 1911 and Lakerfan 19II that I know of and what you lost because of Dusty or anyone else I have no idea but I know if you acted with them like you act with me you're an even bigger punk that I realized. I don't suppose you're smart enough to understand that more than one person might use the name Dusty to bait you because you call everyone you don't like Dusty. And you fight with almost everyone so I bet there has been a lot of Dustys in your little paranoid life.
Most people may not notice the differnce in Lakersfan and Lakerfan and II and 11 but I do and you're going to lose another one if you keep it up. Grow up.
I don’t know why you deleted my post Dusty, but please find me ANY post or blog or anything made with the name Lakersfan1911. Like I said, I had an account by the name Lakersfan1911 the same way you’re not Dusty.
Do these opinions look familiar to anyone?
Nique D: “As far as the comment by Hoffman that Mayo provided a copy of his handwriting and that means no way did he cheat on the SAT. That is BS. The Universities are professionals at getting around it and 10,000 dollars in a few pockets and Mayo walked in with a test filled out in his handwriting and handed it to someone and walked out. Mayo is the epitomy of the stupid athlete and I bet you he never amounts to anything more than Darius Miles. He's a ####.”
Nique D: “One thing I have noticed is that those on this blog who hate will hate beyond any amount of counter liking of a player. The obsessive, ignorant level of hating on Kobe Bryant exceeds anything he does on the court and no matter what he does it comes right back to "It's Kobe's fault". These ignorant fools and you know who you are will claim Kobe tanked it on purpose if he doesn't shoot when the Lakers lose. Of course if they lose and he shot the ball, then he's a ball hog.”
Nique D: “The arrogance and selfishness of Lebron James this past season put anything Kobe Bryant has done on the court in these terms to a distant 2nd forever. James is the most repulsive looking, oldest looking, no team in ME in the NBA, yet it is Bryant that takes the heat.”
Nique D: “More than any single reason, Odom is the reason why the Lakers lost to the Celtics. He couldn't guard anyone. Not one single person. He couldn't defend the pick and roll if they blew the whistle and stepped off the coming move for him in advance. He has the attention span of a puppy on Valium. He'd forget what was just choregraphed for him.”
The Golden State Warriors have matched the contract offer submitted to restricted free agent guard Kelenna Azubuike by the Los Angeles Clippers, it was announced today by Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin. The Warriors had seven (7) days from receipt of the contract – Friday, July 18 - to match the offer from Los Angeles. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not announced. [NBA.com]
Wow, bummer for the Clippers.
They were getting a good deal for a talented role player, and boom, Golden State screws with them again. Do I sense a little bitterness regarding the whole Baron Davis situation? I mean logically speaking, isn’t having Mo Evans and Corey Maggette enough to fill the athletic SG-ish player role?
Whether people in LA want to acknowledge it or not, the 2004-05 season marked an enormous change for the Los Angeles Laker franchise. Gone was Shaquille O’Neal, the cornerstone of the team since 1996, and a new era was born, where Laker management vowed to build around one of the most talented players in the league in Kobe Bryant.
In some ways it made sense for the 2003-04 season to end the way it did, because at that point the Lakers peaked in veteran, experienced, Hall of Fame talent and still could not come away with the one thing that keeps a season from being a failure. From that top peak in ’04, things came tumbling down in more ways than one in ’05.
Replacing an experienced battled-tested “old” team, was the fountain of youth that included Caron Butler, Lamar Odom, and Chris Mihm. Although it could be argued that Chucky Atkins brought some sort of vet savvy to the team, it remained relatively young in comparison to Laker teams of yesteryear. With the youth came another unfamiliarity: losing.
For the first time in a long time the Lakers finished with a losing record and failed to make the playoffs. Later, they suffered another embarrassment by having a worse record than their fellow LA Staples Center roommates, the Clippers. As if that wasn’t enough, tired of three straight seasons of losing, their star player Kobe Bryant went on a whirlwind media tour claiming that the Lakers were attempting to lay the Shaquille O’Neal’s exit at his footsteps, that they had deceived him regarding the team they claimed they would build around him, and that he would rather play on Pluto than continue to represent the purple and gold colors that he had worn his entire career.
LA Hoops Blog
Ultimately however, in true Laker fashion, things turned themselves around. Andrew Bynum, a third year player who people had only seen glimpses of brilliance from, turned into a low-post beast before going down with an injury. Just when all seemed lost post-Bynum’s injury, the Lakers shocked the NBA by making a move for All-Star PF/C Pau Gasol. Eventually the Lakers found themselves back where they had always felt they belonged – the NBA Finals.
The entire rollercoaster ride however, began in the 2004-05 season. Because of this, LA Hoops Blog looks back on the top five adrenaline pumping, un-forgettable events from ’05 to this past season in a brief glance at highs and lows in recent purple and gold history.
I've been trying to stay with the serious writing thing, but you're just too funny.
Just to recap: You and Dusty both think OJ Mayo is a thug and de####able person, hate Lamar Odom, hate everyone one the Lakers besides Kobe, love referencing your lives off the internet, hate LeBron James, and like to hump fire hydrants in your spare time.
LOL you are so wrong in so many ways. Let me chronicle them for you.
1.) I live in Oklahoma and I like the name Thunder. It's not as good as Outlaws that was suggested but they didn't consult with me.
2.) It's way better than Thunderbirds (Ugh) and Barons (double ugh)
3.) On it's very worst day it's better than Sonics which only makes me think of the nerds they use in the Sonic Drive In fast food commercials.
4.) We had to leave the name to get rid of those ugly green and white uniforms. Green belongs on trees and grass. It does not belong on clothing. They're not freaking leprecauns after all.
“Just wait until Bynum comes back” was the Laker fan slogan before, during, and after a Finals series that felt more like a six game sweep than a hard fought four-two defeat. The reliance of Laker fans on Bynum’s return, because of the small sample of play that he’s provided us with, has been mocked endlessly. In some ways it’s understandable. Actually, if going by Bynum’s career stats, it’s completely understandable.
What isn’t understandable however, is how anyone can think this is any different than assuming the Portland Trail Blazers will be a much improved ballclub when Greg Oden returns. After all, hasn’t Greg Oden provided us with an even smaller sampling of his capabilities in the professional ranks than Bynum? And while Oden obviously has the potential to be amazing, he certainly didn’t dominate the colligate game the way some assumed he would. To be fair, he was playing with an injured wrist, but that only further speaks to the fact that the guy can’t seem to stay healthy.
[Stats don't seem to be working on this site, check 'em out on LA Hoops Blog]
One of the above players is Andrew Bynum. The other two are Michael Beasley and Greg Oden, neither of whom has played a second pro ball during the regular season. We have a smart readership base, I’ll let all of you figure out who is who. The point of it all is, if you expect a solid season from Greg Oden next season in terms of the affect he’ll have on his respective team, I don’t see how you can try to diminish the impact Bynum will have on his respective team considering Bynum has done what he’s done at the professional level, whereas Oden’s production was put to shame this past season by a FORWARD.
Last week, regardless of what colors they represent, LA basketball fans sat back and watched the drama that was the Elton Brand Exit unfold. What began as an opt out to “free up some cap space” turned into the ultimate backhand to the entire Clipper Nation as by all accounts a stand-up guy in EB, headed off to be “…closer to home” out in the City of Brotherly Love. Surprisingly, at the end of it all, the picture on what exactly happened and who exactly should be blamed for the entire fiasco is still unclear.
Today LAHB will examine the facts that we do know, and determine who deserves a quick and swift kick in the you know what for went down with Elton Brand.
The Lakers were out of the James Posey sweepstakes early, but I felt the issue was worth mentioning since they were in the running at some point.
Frankly, I think the Hornets over-extended themselves, and I’m not particularly disappointed that the Lakers missed out on the so-called new age Big Shot Robert Horry. First and foremost, any time you give a thirty one year old player who you expect good defense from a four year deal worth twenty five million [Yahoo!], you’re asking for trouble. IF the Hornets get anything out of this deal, it will be during the first two years, tops. When you’re building around a young guy like Chris Paul, you have to why you would want to commit yourself to a four year deal like that. I suppose with the West being what it is everyone wants to “win now”, but I’m not sure this was the right move for that.
So the Los Angeles Clippers get Marcus Camby [ESPN]. Whoopty doo.
I don’t mean to get down on the Clippers, I really don’t, but trading for Camby represents what that team is all about.
They wanted to re-sign one of the most consistent players in the league in Elton Brand. They wanted to sign one of the biggest up and comers in the game in Josh Smith. They wanted to make a swap with New York for a big overweight head case in Zack Randolph. And after all that, the poor fools end up with Marcus Camby and his bloated contract.
Listen, I liked Camby when he was balling with the Knicks in the early years. He also seems like a great teammate to have. That said, the guy is an injury prone, offensively limited, defensively overrated, waste of cap space. And yes, I said defensively overrated.
With the boss gone for the day, I come on here expecting to see a few blogs about what a #### Shaq acted like, and rightfully so. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Big Shaq because he gave me my first taste at a Laker championship squad, but insulting Laker legend Kareem and god of the universe "KOBE!!!"* is shady business. I figured Hoff would address the topic because he's a Shaq-hating-Kobe-lover, but I still felt he'd give the issue fair pub. And he did.
Then I continue to read, and it's like the only basketball thing anyone is blogging about. I get that it's the offseason, but does Kobe really need all of you defending his honor like this? I mean this is borderline someone stepping to your girlfriend type defensiveness I see from the bloggers. Shaq was stupid, no excuses for trying to pick a fight like three years after the fact, but is it really that big of a deal?
And is it really necessary for everyone to write their own raps to respond to Shaq? I mean are your bad rhymes supposed to make Shaq's seem better? If they are, then ya'll are succeeding. Shaq's flow which is god awful aside from two funny lines, is now a Jay-Z type rhyme compared to the nonesense I've seen written back. Here's a helpful hint kids, when you have to preceed your rhyme with "This is really bad, but..." then you shouldn't be posting it.
And for all your moralists out there outraged by Shaq's language, where were you during the infamous Kobe parking lot video? Kobe wasn't exactly using G-rated langauge when describing the Cap's prodigy. It's okay to berate your teammates but it's wrong to berate a rival?
For me, I think both are wrong, but for you guys it's only wrong becuase it happened to "KOBE!!!"*. If only Kareem and Ewing had been mentioned, ya'll would've said nothing (aside from Hoffman and Dizzle) because almighty king "KOBE!!!"* hadn't been offended.
I wonder how all of you will feel about Dwight Howard in 10 years. Everyone has already stated on record that he's a complete goofbag non-leader in the lockeroom just like Shaq has always been, and he's not exactly lighting it up from the charity stripe either. Isn't that a lack of a work ethic with him just like with Shaq? Isn't that a lack of leadership with him just like Shaq?
Let's call a #### a ####. You fools were sitting here waiting for a reason to pile on Shaq, and now you got it. Same way the Kobe haters were waiting for the parking lot video to come out just so they could re-iterate what an awful teammate he is. At least be honest and admit that you don't like Shaq, and that this isn't a big deal, it's just something for you to hate on him with.
If you don't like Shaq, then fine, so be it. But please, stop spamming up the blogsphere with your ridiculous rap comebackbacks defending Kobe's honor, and enough with the nicknames for Shaq. We get it, he's a #### for trying to act like Kobe ratting him out 4 years ago is the reason for his divorce. He's a #### for trying to call out Kareem, a center far more talented than him. He's a #### for trying to attack "KOBE!!!"*
If nothing else, Shaq should be taken out back and beaten for inspiring a generation of losers who always wanted to rap, to write a comeback that he'll never read.
Please, leave all negative responses in rap form in the comments section.
Sizzel, gimmi a beat...
*Copywrited by seemingly the only funny person left on this site.
(Screw Kobe, Kwame Brown for league MVP. He made the Lakers MUCH better this season.)
I thought the Lakers played a very solid game yesterday despite the at times awful defense. I know some will question how the Lakers will survive in later rounds against more elite competition with that inconsistent D, but the one thing this team has proven to me is their ability to win games that matter. They did it at the end of the season, they did it yesterday, and I think they’ll continue to do it as the rounds progress. Much like the Sheeds play down to their level of competition, I think the Lakers play up to their level of competition (as those nifty games against the Bobcats and Hawks indicated).
I don’t put much stock into Kobe’s bad game because every star has them at some point, but please don’t tell me that he had a good game. Let’s acknowledge that K-Mart gave him fits and move on from there, instead focusing on the way he was supporting the teammates despite his own personal bad game issues. At first I was a bit angry when I saw him just head into the locker room at the end of the half without giving anybody a high five or anything, and later when I didn’t see any emotion out of him when Pau hit a monster dunk, but that all melted away when I saw him giving Jordan pointers near the bench and then cheering the squad on from the bench. EVERYONE has a bad game, but it’s important to not pull a LT and sulk on the bench when this happens – and Mamba didn’t. Good for him, that’s what I expect from a leader.
I know Pau was the statistical hero of the game and I give him all the credit in the world, but we can first please give some love to Lamar Odom? This is a guy who’s been my favorite Laker for a long time now, and I’m glad he’s finally proving himself to all Laker fans as a consistent and solid player. This is my opinion of course, but I think he has more heart and more passion for the game than anyone on the Laker roster, and I always thought it was sad that neither him nor Kobe could make the other better – which makes Pau’s arrival all the sweeter because he does have the ability to make both LO and Kobe better.
Speaking of Gasol, let me just get this quick negative thing out of the way, yes he’s still soft. Nothing that happened yesterday proved otherwise, so I’m not sure why folks are harping on that. Now that that’s out of the way, Gasol truly earned his Laker stripes yesterday by converting on all the gifts that the fellas were giving him. Pau hit all the shots he was supposed to hit because they were fairly easy shots, but it is worth noting that Andrew Bynum would not have been the force in the middle offensively that Gasol was. Pau’s offensive arsenal puts Drew’s to shame, and It does make me a little apprehensive about moving Gasol to the four despite the fact that he’s somewhat of a defensive liability at the center position. Gasol knows how to hit the shots he’s supposed to hit, Bynum doesn’t yet.
Oh yeah, and great, great, geat, job by Luke Walton. I've been ragging on the guy all season for lacking a pulse, but he truly came through yesterday when the Lakers needed a lift so good for him. Hopefully he won't dissapear for the rest of the series, because he packs a much needed boost when he's there to play the way he played early on last season.
The passing done by the team was absolutely beautiful, and I’m glad that folks are noticing the smoothness of the Laker offense. The team is filled with a bunch of really good passers, and when everyone hits their shots the team doesn’t seem to have a problem moving the ball.
I don’t expect Kobe to have a similarly bad game in game 2, but I do expect another bad game at some point in the series from him because there are some match up issues with the Nuggets. As long as Lamar and Pau step up though, it should be no problem. I also don’t expect Pau to return to playing like a mortal because the Nuggets awful defense is god sent for an amazingly offensively talented player like him. I think as long as Gasol continues to hit the easy shots that are given to him, he’ll do big things in this series.
I said from the get go that this series shouldn’t go more than six, and I believe that. If the Lakers don’t come out in the next game fully prepared to break down the zone when it’s thrown at them, I will absolutely torch Phil Jackson in my next blog.
Off topic, but let me pose this question anyway: Does anyone else think the Lakers match up better with the Spurs than Suns? I look at that Amare-Shaq tandem over there, and I just can’t see the Lakers stopping them. I know it’s bad to look ahead, but hypothetically speaking, which of those two teams would you rather see?
Couldn't let the world go without my honest and reasonable look on the Lakers. I'm a true blue Laker fan, but I'm pretty realistic about it as opposed to some of the other crazies running around. Now when I first wrote this profile I wrote that I wanted to speak on all sports...forg et that. I'm here for one reason and one reason only, to talk about hoops. Insult my Lakers and you'll feel my wrath, talk outta your BLEEP about my team and I'll call you on it. Oh and I hate bandwagon fans who quit on the Lakers cuz Kobe wants to leave so if you're one of those, I don't like you. Lakers are gonna be 81-1 in 2034. Heard it here first.
Clippers sign Ricky Davis
Lakers re-sign Sasha Vujacic
They were getting a good deal for a talented role player, and boom, Golden State screws with them again. Do I sense a little bitterness regarding the whole Baron Davis situation? I mean logically speaking, isn’t having Mo Evans and Corey Maggette enough to fill the athletic SG-ish player role?
